Career and Education Opportunities for Geographic Information Systems Technologists in Minneapolis, Minnesota

There are many career and education opportunities for geographic information systems technologists in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. The national trend for geographic information systems technologists sees this job pool growing by about 13.1% over the next eight years. In general, geographic information systems technologists research and develop geospatial technologies.

Income for geographic information systems technologists is about $34 per hour or $72,660 annually on average in Minnesota. Nationally, their income is about $36 hourly or $75,150 per year. Earnings for geographic information systems technologists are the same as earnings in the general category of Geographic Informatics in Minnesota and the same as general Geographic Informatics category earnings nationally. Jobs in this field include: geospatial information technologist, geographic information systems coordinator , and geospatial information scientist.

There are eighty schools of higher education in the Minneapolis area, including fourteen within twenty-five miles of Minneapolis where you can get a degree to start your career as a geographic information systems technologist. Geographic information systems technologists usually hold a Bachelor's degree, so you can expect to spend about four years studying to be a geographic information systems technologist if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Geographic Information Systems Technologist

In general, geographic information systems technologists research and develop geospatial technologies. They also may produce databases, perform applications programming or coordinate projects.

Geographic information systems technologists produce data layers or reports using spatial analysis procedures and Geographic data Systems (GIS) technology or systems. They also assist users in formulating Geographic data Systems (GIS) requirements or understanding the implications of alternatives. Equally important, geographic information systems technologists have to document or test Geographic data Systems (GIS) models, internet mapping solutions, or other applications. They are often called upon to read current literature, talk with colleagues or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in Geographic data Systems (GIS) technology or systems. They are expected to meet with clients to consider topics such as technical specifications and operational problems. Finally, geographic information systems technologists perform integrated and computerized Geographic data Systems (GIS) analyses to address scientific problems.

Every day, geographic information systems technologists are expected to be able to listen to and understand others in meetings. They need to read and understand documents and reports. It is also important that they articulate ideas and problems.

It is important for geographic information systems technologists to schedule or direct research or publication efforts of technicians or related staff. They are often called upon to conduct feasibility studies or identify system, time or cost requirements for projects. Somewhat less frequently, geographic information systems technologists are also expected to ready training materials for or make presentations to Geographic data Systems (GIS) users.

They also have to be able to direct the development or administration of Geographic data Systems (GIS) projects, including the development of technical priorities, client reporting and interface, or coordination and review of schedules and budgets and make recommendations regarding upgrades, considering implications of new or revised Geographic data Systems (GIS) software or applications. And finally, they sometimes have to schedule or direct research or publication efforts of technicians or related staff.

Like many other jobs, geographic information systems technologists must be able to absorb the factors involved and a problem and provide a well thought out solution and be thorough and dependable.

University of St Thomas, 2115 Summit Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105-1078. University of St Thomas is a large university located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 10,960 students and an admission rate of 81%. University of St Thomas has 2 areas of study related to Geographic Information Systems Technologist. They are:

Information Technology, postbaccalaureate certificate and master's degree which graduated six and 100 students respectively in 2008.

Geography, bachelor's degree which graduated 1 student in 2008.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College - Coon Rapids, MN

Anoka-Ramsey Community College, 11200 Mississippi Blvd. NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433-3470. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is a medium sized college located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 8,253 students. Anoka-Ramsey Community College has a less than one year and an associate's degree program in Cartography which graduated two and four students respectively in 2008.

Capella University - Minneapolis, MN

Capella University, 225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402-3389. Capella University is a large university located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 23,733 students and an admission rate of 100%. Capella University has one to two year, bachelor's degree, and master's degree programs in Information Technology which graduated one, seventy-five, and 114 students respectively in 2008.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities - Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 100 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0213. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a large university located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 51,140 students and an admission rate of 53%. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctor's degree programs in Geography which graduated three, twenty-six, and twelve students respectively in 2008.

Macalester College - Saint Paul, MN

Macalester College, 1600 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105-1899. Macalester College is a small college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 1,900 students and an admission rate of 41%. Macalester College has a bachelor's degree program in Geography which graduated four students in 2008.

Minnesota School of Business-Shakopee - Shakopee, MN

Minnesota School of Business-Shakopee, 1200 Shakopee Town Square, Shakopee, MN 55379. Minnesota School of Business-Shakopee is a small school located in Shakopee, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 542 students and an admission rate of 99%. Minnesota School of Business-Shakopee has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Information Technology which graduated zero and one students respectively in 2008.

National American University-Roseville - Roseville, MN

National American University-Roseville, 1550 West Highway 36, Roseville, MN 55113-4035. National American University-Roseville is a small university located in Roseville, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 325 students. National American University-Roseville has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Information Technology which graduated zero and one students respectively in 2008.

Minnesota School of Business - Plymouth, MN

Minnesota School of Business, 1455 County Rd 101 North, Plymouth, MN 55447. Minnesota School of Business is a small school located in Plymouth, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 520 students. Minnesota School of Business has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Information Technology which graduated zero and two students respectively in 2008.

National American University-Bloomington - Bloomington, MN

National American University-Bloomington, 7801 Metro Parkway, Suite 200, Bloomington, MN 55425. National American University-Bloomington is a small university located in Bloomington, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 290 students. National American University-Bloomington has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Information Technology which graduated three and zero students respectively in 2008.

Minnesota School of Business-Brooklyn Center - Brooklyn Center, MN

Minnesota School of Business-Brooklyn Center, 5910 Shingle Creek Pky, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. Minnesota School of Business-Brooklyn Center is a small school located in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 700 students and an admission rate of 98%. Minnesota School of Business-Brooklyn Center has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Information Technology which graduated two and four students respectively in 2008.

Minnesota School of Business - Blaine, MN

Minnesota School of Business, 3680 Pheasant Ridge Dr NE, Blaine, MN 55449. Minnesota School of Business is a small school located in Blaine, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 754 students and an admission rate of 100%. Minnesota School of Business has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Information Technology.

Brown College - Mendota Heights, MN

Brown College, 1440 Northland Dr, Mendota Heights, MN 55120-1004. Brown College is a small college located in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 1,231 students. Brown College has a bachelor's degree program in Information Technology which graduated twenty-four students in 2008.

Globe University - Woodbury, MN

Globe University, 8089 Globe Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-3388. Globe University is a small university located in Woodbury, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 856 students and an admission rate of 88%. Globe University has an associate's degree and a bachelor's degree program in Information Technology which graduated six and six students respectively in 2008.

National American University-Brooklyn Center - Brooklyn Center, MN

National American University-Brooklyn Center, 6120 Earle Brown Drive, Suite 100, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430-4100. National American University-Brooklyn Center is a small university located in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 339 students. National American University-Brooklyn Center has a bachelor's degree program in Information Technology.

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified GIS/LIS Technologist:
This is certification is for technicians who integrate a variety of spatial data sets into a GIS format designed for graphic output or analysis.

Biomedical Electronics Technician:
Biomedical electronics technicians are expected to obtain knowledge of the principles of modern biomedical techniques, the proper procedure in the care, handling and maintenance of biomedical equipment and to display an attitude/behavior expected of an electronics technician who works in a hospital or healthcare environment.

Certified Satellite Installer:
Earning a Certified Satellite Installer (CSI) certification means you possess the knowledge and skills essential to a successful satellite technician as defined by experts in the field.

Licensed Penetration Tester:
The licensed penetration tester is a program which trains security professionals to analyze the security posture of a network exhaustively and recommend corrective measures authoritatively.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota photo by BenFranske

Minneapolis is situated in Hennepin County, Minnesota. It has a population of over 382,605. The cost of living index in Minneapolis, 101, is near the national average. New single-family homes in Minneapolis are priced at $451,300 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, forty-five new homes were constructed in Minneapolis, down from one hundred fifteen the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Minneapolis are health care, educational services, and accommodation and food services. For men, it is educational services, professional, scientific, and technical services, and accommodation and food services. The average commute to work is about 22 minutes. More than 37.4% of Minneapolis residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 13.1%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Minneapolis is 7.0%, which is the same as Minnesota's average of 7.0%.

The percentage of Minneapolis residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 57.7%, is more than the national average but less than the state average. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Methodist Church.

Minneapolis is home to the Saint Josephs Orphanage and the Hiawatha Municipal Golf Course as well as Beards Plaisance and Mississippi Park. Visitors to Minneapolis can choose from COE Mansion Carriage House, Radisson Hotel Metrodome and Best Western Kelly Inn for temporary stays in the area.